Multilateral Aid Review summary - Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

FAO is the lead on food in the UN system and focuses on MDG1, reducing hunger and poverty. It provides technical assistance and policy advice at country and global level, leads the humanitarian agriculture cluster (and will co-lead the food security cluster), and provides the international platform to negotiate treaties and agree global standards and guidelines on food and agriculture issues.

	comment
Contribution to UK development objectives	Weak
	+	FAO’s mandate is highly relevant to global food security, hunger and nutrition. FAO delivers important global public goods (knowledge, data and international coordination).
	+	It performs well in fragile contexts and is becoming an increasingly effective player in emergency response.
	+	FAO has a strong focus on gender.
	+	FAO develops policy and provides technical advice to help countries adapt to climate change in agriculture.
	_	However, at country level these strengths are not sufficiently realised. Its programmes lack strategic focus and often FAO does not adequately fulfil its policy support role.
	_	FAO’s impact is very variable and projects are not well targeted.
	_	There is a lack of prioritisation in programming and bureaucratic administration can cause delays, negatively impacting FAO’s delivery and results at country level.
Organisational strengths	Unsatisfactory
	+	FAO brings partners together for a coordinated response and has a consultative approach with NGOs and civil society.
	_	Though cost control systems are in place, there is no corporate culture of value-for-money and cost effectiveness.
	_	While there is a new Strategic Framework, Medium Term Plan and corporate Results Framework, it is too early to judge success.
	_	Too much authority remains in the DG’s office and HR policies are not yet consistently applied.
	_	Programming and financial accountability processes at country level are weak, disbursements can be delayed and poorly performing projects are not managed systematically.
	_	Profound culture change is needed to transform FAO into a modern, transparent and accountable institution - particularly at country level.
Capacity for positive change	Uncertain
	+	A comprehensive reform programme is underway and beginning to show some benefits at an organisational and country level.
	_	The scale of reform needed to turn FAO into a consistently performing and effective organisation is huge. New DG to be elected in 2011 to serve from 2012 and much depends on whether the new DG will bring new impetus to reform.